Holder for invalid walker



A ril 16, 1963 M. A. WOLFERTS HOLDER FOR INVALID WALKER '2 sheets sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1961 n S m T N 3 T R R G W m F F m L M A 0 Wm JIPHHIIIIIIIIIIHIIIH I..." W. A M Y B 2 mm P- 4 1. bi I x 7. 6 6 Z k 9 m 9 M. 6, i z m 4 F 6 H E m w 1. w

April 16, 1963 M. A. WOLFERTS 3,085,?58

HOLDER FOR INVALID WALKER Filed Oct. 4, 1961 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H INVENTOR.

MAX A. woLFaR-rs.

United rates Eatent 3,085,258 HGLDER FOR INVALKD WALKER Max A. Wolferts, 271% Lincoln St, Hollywood, Fla. Filed Oct. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 142,888 7 Claims. (Ci. -92) This invention relates to means for connection with a hospital or other bed for detachably holding invalid walkers or the like against accidental shifting while an invalid or the like moves to and from a bed to support himself in a walker. The invention is herein called an invalid walker-holder.

Extreme difliculty has been experienced in holding a walker in position while an invalid is either getting out of bed to engage the walker or, to hold the walker against shifting when the invalid returns to bed. Frequent accidents have occured when an invalid attempts to move between bed and walker due to the shifting of the walker laterally or outwardly as the invalid attempts to transfer himself from one to the other, and the purpose of this invention is to securely hold the walker against shifting while the invalid is entering or leaving the walker.

The invention embodies novel connecting means, carried by the bed rails, that normally are retracted to lie parallel with the rails of the bed so that the invalid can move his legs over the edge of the bed with a minimum of interference from the walker-holder. The connecting means to be manually shifted outwardly away from the rail of the bed to engage opposite posts of the walker, such means being actuated by the invalid and through the medium of linkage and past center locking means, the device, including a pair of spaced apart double arms which are simultaneously swung to a position at right angle to the rail of the bed and with each of the arms having a hook-like socket means to engage the posts of the walker.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bed having the invention applied thereto and with the device being in the projected or operative position to support a walker,

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section through the bed and the associated parts of the invention,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the device in the supported position,

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the device in the retracted position,

FIGURE 5 is a plan view, showing the several link elements initially shifted to a projecting position, and

FIGURE 6 is a plan view, with the device in the fully extended position and with certain of the links being shifted to a past center locking position.

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been illustrated a bed 7, having conventional angle bed rails 8. Mounted in fixed position upon one bed rail 8, as by angle brackets 9, is a pair of spaced apart bell crank levers 10 and 11. The bell crank levers have their short arms 10a and 11a pivotally connected to the brackets 9 by pivots 9a. The bell crank levers are adapted to swing in a horizontal plane by manual shifting. Since the walker, indicated in dotted lines at 12, embodies an open and generally tubular frame, having rear posts 13a and 13b, it has been found desirable that the posts 13a and 13b be engaged at two points in their height and for this purpose, there have been provided second levers 14a and 14b connected through the pivotal points 9a with the upper bell cranks ice 10 and 11 by tubular members 15 (10, 14a, and 15 function as one piece). The tubular members 15 and the lower levers 14a and 14b are braced to the opposite rail 8 of the bed by braces 16 so that, when the bell cranks 10 and 11 are swung in a horizontal plane, the lower levers 14a and 14b partake of a similar movement.

Riveted or otherwise connected to the flange of one bed rail 8 is an A-frame 17. The A-frame 17 has pivoted or otherwise connected to its apex, as at D, an elongated center link 18. The center link 18, at one end, is pivotally connected to a floating link 19, as shown at C. The opposite end of the floating link 19 is pivotally connected to the long arm 16b of the bell crank lever 10, as at B. The opposite end of the center link 18 is pivotally connected at E to a yieldable link 20. The pivotal points E and F are yieldable by springs 21a and 21b, constituting a yieldable connection and allowing a past center swinging of the links 18 and 20. Swing-limiting stops 23a: and 2317 are fastened to the bed rail 8 to limit the swing of the two bell crank levers 10 and 11 so that the arms 10a and 11a are stopped at a right angle to the bed rail 8.

In the use of the device, the several parts being supported upon the rails of a conventional bed and with the parts in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, the invalid swings one arm 10a outwardly, manually. The swinging of the arm 10a functions through the arm 10!; to pull or push upon the floating link 19, such action, through the medium of the floating link 19 causes the center link 18 to swing upon its pivot D carried by the A-frame 17 and causing yieldable link 20 to be simultaneously moved with the movement of the link 18, rocking the follower bell crank 11 outwardly so that the arms 10a and 11a move in an opposed relation. As the links 18 and 20 continue to swing, the yieldable pivotal points E and F permit the links 18 and 20- to move to a past center position, illustrated in FIGURE 6, securely locking the bell crank levers 1t) and 11 against accidental shifting movement. Prior to the full motion to the past center locking position, post 13b of the walker is engaged into the socket 22b of the arm 11a and at the full past center locking movement, the opposite arm 10a and its socket 22:: engages the post 13a of the walker, securely holding the walker against accidental shifting. The past center swing of links 18 and 20 together with the swing-limiting stops 23a and 23b and the engagement of the rear posts 13a and 13b of the walker 12 constitute a very effective locking mechanism as the various links and levers of the walker-holder arrive in the operative position.

Four-sided hook-like sockets 22a and 22b have one side partly open to allow the upright posts 13a or 13b of the walker 12 to enter. When both bell cranks 10 and 11 are in locked or operative position, the walker is pushed slightly forward or away from the bed so that the posts 13a and 131) are encircled on three sides by the hook-like holders 22a and 2212. This prevents adverse shifting, twisting, turning or tipping of the walker 12 by forces an invalid applies in moving from bed to walker or walker to bed. When the invalid is engaged in the walker and wishes to release the walker from the walkerholder he shifts the walker slightly backwards or toward the bed so that the rear post and 13b are opposite the open portion of the hook-like sockets 22a and 2211. Now the invalid pushes the walker, using post 13a against arm 19a opening the past center lock and freeing post 13b of the walker 12 from hook-like socket 2212 on arm of bell crank 11a. The post 13a is now withdrawable from the socket 22:: on arm Iii-a of the bell crank 10 and mechanism is left in position as in FIGURE 5.

To return to the bed, the mechanism is located as in FIGURE 5. The invalid engages post 13a of the walker in socket 22a of hell crank 10, he moves the walker slightly forward entrapping post 13a on three sides. Now

post 13b is pushed toward socket 22b of bell crank arm 11a. Post 13a in socket 22a on arm a draws socket 2211 on 11a toward post 13b of the walker 12 through the various levers and links of the mechanism to the past center locking position. When the walker holder is in its locked position, the walker is pushed slightly forward so that both posts 13a and 13b are each engaged on three sides by the sockets 22a and 22b. When the invalid is seated upon the bed he swings the lever 19a in a direction toward the bed rail 8 moving the various links and causing the bell crank lever 11a to swing toward the bed rail 8 to fully retract the device so that the arms 1% and 11a lie closely parallel to the bed rail, providing a minimum of interference to the invalid as he lifts his legs into the bed. It will of course be apparent that the lower levers 14a and 1411 are parallel to the arms 10a and 11a are, are provided with similar sockets, not shown, and func tion in a similar manner. The device thus functions as a desirable means for securely holding a walker against shifting when the invalid is either leaving a bed or entering a bed. The parts are simple, are strong, quickly and easily attached to any conventional bed and are most effective in preventing accidental falling of an invalid when entering or leaving a conventional walker.

It is evident that the invention herein described is useable with a large variety of walkers and can be affixed to beds having several different designs or shapes in their side rails.

, While the several links are shown as being flat bars, it will be apparent that the bars may be angle irons, channels or other cross-sectional configuration, also that they are not necessarily straight in their length but can be bent or curved to allow them to clear or pass one another as required as they move through their several rotations.

The levers, links and A-frame are in ratio, and their size or height is determined by the distance between the two rear legs of the walker.

The novelty of this invention resides in the following vitalizing elements. It is never necessary for the invalid to release his hold on the walker for the purpose of manipulating the levers of the walker-holding device. The walker holding device makes it possible for an invalid to remove himself from a bed and place himself into a walker, move about, remove himself from a walker and replace himself into bed without the aid of an attendant. The combination and arrangement of the hook-like sockets, bell crank levers, link, A-frame, past center lock, pivots, stops and braces and their relationship to bed and walker.

The retractability of the walker-holder placing it out of the way when not in use, and out of the way of the invalid when moving his legs over the side of the bed to which the walker-holder is attached.

The invalid capable of using a walker with the aid of an attendant, whose only function is to steady the walker while the invalid engages or disengages himself therefrom, may dispense with that attendant when using a walkerholder.

The knowledge required of an invalid to understand use of the walker-holder is nominal. He needs to swing only one hell crank with one hand or forearm or transmit movements to the walker-holder through the walker while engaged therein.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for connecting an invalid walker to a bed and in which the walker includes a pair of spaced vertical posts and the bed includes a side rail, a pair of levers pivoted to the side rail, each lever having a socket for detachable engagement with one of the posts of the walker, each lever being provided with a projecting arm, a frame fixedly attached to the side rail, a link centrally pivoted to said frame, and link members pivotally attached at one end to the ends of said link and pivoted respectively at their opposite ends to the ends of the projecting arms, whereby a manual movement of one of the arms in one direction will cause both of the arms to be moved toward one another to engage the walker between them, and a movement of one of the arms in the opposite direction will cause both arms to be moved away from one another to release the walker.

2. An apparatus for connecting an invalid walker to the side of a bed comprising, a walker having a pair of vertical posts, the bed having a side rail, a pair of levers pivoted in spaced relation to the side rail, each of the levers having a socket for detachable engagement with one of the posts of the walker, and linkage connecting said levers and effective to cause the levers to be moved toward one another to engage and retain the posts when one of the levers is moved in the proper direction, and also effective to separate the levers and permit detachment of the walker when one of the levers is moved in the opposite direction.

3. An apparatus as provided for in claim 2, wherein the linkage includes elements which are pivotal to a beyond dead center position to thereby lock the levers in walker-engaging position.

4.An apparatus for connecting an invalid walker to a bed and in which the walker includes a pair of spaced Vertical posts and the bed includes a side rail, a pair of bell-crank levers pivotally attached in spaced relation to the bed rail, each lever having an arm provided with a socket for the reception of one of the posts of the walker, each lever having a second arm, an A-shaped frame attached to the side rail, a rocking link centrally pivoted at the apex of said frame, a link pivoted at one end to one end of the rocking link and pivoted at its other end to the end of the second arm on one of the levers, and a link pivoted'at one'end to the second arm of the rocking link and pivoted at its opposite end to the second arm of the second lever.

5. An apparatus for connecting an invalid walker to a bed comprising, a bed side rail, a pair of bell-crank levers attached to the side rail, each of said levers having a first arm provided with a socket for engaging with a part of the walker and maintaining it in close proximity to the bed, each of the levers having a second arm, a triangular frame fixed to the bed side rail between the points. of. pivotal attachment of the bell-crank levers thereto, a rocking link centrally pivoted to the frame, links respectively pivoted at one end to the ends of. the rocking link, and said links respectively pivoted at their opposite ends to the ends of the second arms of the bellcrank levers.

6. An apparatus for connecting an invalid walker to a bed and in which the walker includes apair of spaced vertical posts and the bed includes a side rail, a pair of bell-crank levers pivotallyattached in spaced relation to the bed rail, each lever having a first arm provided with a socket for the reception of.one of the posts of the walker, each lever having a second arm, an A-shaped frame fixedly attached to the side rail between the levers, a rocking link centrally pivoted at the apex of said frame, a link pivoted at one of its ends to one end of the rocking link and pivoted at its other end to the end of the second arm of one of the levers, a link pivoted at one of its ends to the second end of the rocking link and pivoted at its opposite end to the second arm on the second lever, and stop means on the side rail for limiting the movement of the first arms of the levers in a direction toward one another.

7. An apparatus for connecting an invalid walker to the side of a bed comprising, a walker having a pair of vertical posts, the bed having a side rail, a pair of levers pivoted in spaced relation to the side rail, each of said levers having an open-sided socket for detachable engagement with one of the posts of the walker,

parts of the linkage at pivotal points thereof to constitute a y-ieldable connection between said parts and permit movement to a beyond dead center position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hillenbrand et a1 July 14, 1933 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AN INVALID WALKER TO A BED AND IN WHICH THE WALKER INCLUDES A PAIR OF SPACED VERTICAL POSTS AND THE BED INCLUDES A SIDE RAIL, A PAIR OF LEVERS PIVOTED TO THE SIDE RAIL, EACH LEVER HAVING A SOCKET FOR DETACHABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF THE POSTS OF THE WALKER, EACH LEVER BEING PROVIDED WITH A PROJECTING ARM, A FRAME FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO THE SIDE RAIL, A LINK CENTRALLY PIVOTED TO SAID FRAME, AND LINK MEMBERS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED AT ONE END TO THE ENDS OF SAID LINK AND PIVOTED 